(ET) Spring mower deck stuff....

[Chris Zach <cz alembic crystel com>]

Hooked up the mower deck this weekend to see how it handled the winter. 
Quick summary: Not too well.

Two of the motors (fat ones) spun up slowly then petered out. Great, 
brushes. The third motor (thin one, rebuilt) was fine but I was going to 
need to work on the two big ones. And the center one was quite loud.

Both had what looked like aluminum oxide gunk in the brush holders, so 
the brushes could not move and as a result the motors were inoperative. 
Pretty easy fix, take off the top of the motor, tap the brushes out with 
a drift, then use a file to clean out the crud and get the brushes 
running smoothly.

However the center motor had an old front motor bearing that was totally 
shot (I had rebuilt the rear bearing about 10 years ago) so I took it in 
for a front bearing swap. Massive pain, and always different problems.

The blade hub came off easily (thank you anti-seize) but the bearing 
would not come out of the bottom of the motor housing. No matter what it 
was stuck; penetrating oil, heat, tapping with a hammer. While tapping 
on the bearing the bottom housing broke so I grabbed the cutting disc 
and cut off the housing.

The bearing was a mess and frozen to the shaft. Worse it was pressed 
back almost to the windings which meant I could not get a puller under 
the complete bearing. So I had to cut it apart, cut grooves into the 
inner race, and carefully pull it. If the puller turned it would wreck 
the windings on the armature.

With a BANG it finally came loose. And while the inner circlip was 
damaged the windings were ok. Good. Replaced the bearing, made sure it 
was not on too deep, then re-assembled the motor. Side note: I use a 
circular honing stone on a drill on the inside of the hub to clean it up 
before re-assembly as the rust and crud can freeze it on the shaft. More 
anti-seize (including on the bearing to motor bottom) and everything is 
back and running.

The deck is the rusted one and the rust is not getting better. I think 
I'll try welding some steel over the holes, but its days are numbered. I 
do have a final deck in the shed; one of the newest Bill Gunn decks in 
perfect condition but I have been trying to save it so it can last till 
I drop dead. At 57, I am getting there....

Meantime I should get some brushes and a spare motor bottom. I took the 
one from my last spare mower motor; running out of stuff here to be 
honest; does anyone have one around?

But boy is the deck quiet. Can barely hear it to be honest and cuts well.